The national cyclists who will
compete at the Malaysia Games
(Sukma) in Melaka this month.
Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan.

Some consider 13 to be an unlucky number, but Brunei are banking on it being their lucky charm.

Competing in 13 sports at the 13th edition of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Melaka, the Brunei contingent expects to bring home at least 13 medals from Malaysia.

"We're competing in 13 sports (in Melaka) and we have the potential to get a medal in each sport," the Brunei contingent's chief secretariat, Hj Md Rosfazilah Hj Yusly, told The Brunei Times yesterday .

"Now it is up to the athletes, who have undergone a month-long intensive training programme to prepare for the Games, to deliver," said Hj Md Rosfazilah at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas yesterday.

"The majority of the contingent is made up of fresh faces. But I believe that the mixture of experienced and new athletes will benefit the contingent," he added.

Hj Md Rosfazilah was one of officials to leave for the Games yesterday.

Also at the airport to see the officials and athletes off yesterday were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah and Datin Hjh Adina Othman, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the Deputy Minister of MCYS respectively.

"We hope you will be victorious in your events. Battle hard and don't give up. We will wait for you to return with the medals," said Pehin Dato Hj Hazair in his speech.

The Minister's words echoed that of the Director of the Department of Youth and Sports, Hj Mohamad Panglima Asgar Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah, who said during the launch of the centralised training last month that the athletes must always fight for gold, despite Brunei being just an invitational team.

Brunei's best finish at Sukma was in 2004 when the national contingent returned with one gold, five silver and five bronze medals from Negri Sembilan.

This year's contingent of 104 67 athletes, five managers, 16 coaches, two technical officers and 14 secretariat officials will be led by chef de mission Hj Rosmadee Hj Md Daud.